Reinforced i-beam



Patented Jan. 8, 1946 REINFORCED I-BEAM Maurice Lachman, New York, and Laurence S. -Lachman, Forest Hills, N. Y., assignors to vStructural Patents Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of'New Jersey` Application october 3, 1942, serial No. 460,620

2 claims.. (c1. 18a- 37) `The present invention `relates to structural metal work generally and more particularly to reinforcement and consequent strengthening of beams which may be used either singly or in combination with other members, such as angles, plates andthe like, to produce trusses, girders and analogous structures of varying characters and constructions suitable for use for a variety of purposes.

The principal object of the invention is the production of a reinforced beam, such as a conventional and standard rolled I-beam, or any other beam employing essentially a web and laterally or horizontally extending flanges integral therewith, by means of simple and inexpensive expedients adapted' to very appreciably enhance its strength and render it effectively resistant to strains and stresses of whatever nature and capableof sustaining very heavy loads applied under compression.

A further object of the invention-is the production of a beam of the character referred to which shall be so reinforced as to permit its employment in a size much smaller than ordinarily would be required and necessary for any predetermined construction or for its intended purpose.

' VA further object of the invention is the production of a structural member comprising a flanged Web the normally unsupported flanges of which are so supported or reinforced as to enable the flanges per se to sustain heavy loads which normally would not be possible without danger of buckling, deflection or fracture.

4 A further object of the invention is the production of a beam comprising a flanged Web so reinforced as to permit access to be readily had to its interior surface for cleaning purposes or for painting to obviate the formation of rust and consequent deterioration of the beam from corrosion.

description, the invention consisting in the reinforced structural member or beam hereinafter more particularly described and then specified in the claims. v

Referring in detail to the several figures of the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of the structural beam of the invention.

Fig., 2 is a side elevation thereof. v :"lig.' 3 isa horizontal section on the line 3 of Fig. 2, and

"Fig". 4 is a perspective view of the strutsv con? stituting the members. I l Referring further to the several views of the drawing:

The web of an I-beam is indicated at l0 while the upper and lower flanges thereof which are integral with thev web are indicated at Il and I2 strengthening and the supporting respectively. The I-beam preferably, although not necessarily, a conventional and rolled I-beam, of standard size and construction. Such beams `are employed for a variety ofpurposes and for ing or buckling `if the applied loads are of excessive weight. To appreciably enhance the strength of such beams, and to obviate the objections referred to, the opposed edges of the upper and lower flanges are rigidly connected together by rectilinear struts constituting latticed or reticulated strengthening and supporting members and forming openings therebetween of a size permitting access to be conveniently had to the interior surfaceof the I-beam for cleaning and painting purposes. Said struts in effect also constitute` supplemental webs spaced from the conventional web l0 whereby the'flanges of the beam not only are supported centrally thereof but at their free ends as Well. The resulting structure, obviously, is one o f great strength and rigidity.

For the strengthening and supporting struts it is preferred to employ conventional rolled channels because of their inherent strength and be-v cause they are standard in size and construction andare easily procurable. Channels are also preferably employed for the reason that they provide a plurality of Welding projections or points enablingl them to be conveniently and rigidly welded to the edges of the opposed flanges. As an alternative, however, it will be understood that in some cases rods, wires or plates may be conveniently utilized as the strengthening and supporting struts. The channels preferably are utilized in pairs, each channel of which crosses the other channel vand is integrally connected thereto. Thel ends of both channels are then rigidly connected, preferably rby Welding, to the opposed edges of the flanges of the I-beam.

The web of the outer one of the aforesaid pairs of channels is indicated at I6 while its flanges,

which are integral with the web, are indicated at Il. Said flanges I1 are provided with aligned right-angled slots I8 centrally thereof of a, size permitting them to snugly receive the other orV inner channel of the pair. Th'e web of the inner channel is indicated at I3 while its flanges, which Y are integraltherewith, are indicatedat I 4. Said flanges t4, at. their ends, .are preferably cutaway to shorten the depths of the flanges and toVV form shoulders I5.

A pair of the aforesaid ch'annels is assembled,

one on the other, by reception of the inner channel within the slots I8 of the outer one and the members are then rigidlyHandQinteg-rally. con-v nected together in crossedt. relation by electri-V Ythe beam, so that compressive forces acting on the beam anges are transmitted through such .end shoulders and are resisted by the strut cally spot welding, as by spot'welds I9, theange- I3 to the flange I6 at their places of intersection;

When so inter-connected, obviously, tlie'chan'- nels lie at right angles to each other but. the..

angle between them may be conveniently"dimin` ished` or increased to varythe degree; of inclina tion of the members to suit varying conditions and ones convenience by cutting; the receiving slots I8 in alignment through the angesitl; di'- agonally ofthe centra-l axis` of the channel and atany desired degree` of; inclination. K

'Iheaed'gesv oftherflanges of. the channels adja-v centtheir ends` are rig-idly and integrally connectedtoethe. free edges ofthesopposed. flanges II and I2; Vof the lfbeam; preferably by employ'- ,ment` of the. pressureelectric resistance iwelding process-now well knovvnin the art and by passing. heating electric current.throughV the opposed parts. with the simultaneous. application of pres-.fv sure. The edges ofA the anges of the. channels provide with the edges. of the angesn II and I2 sharplydened relatively small areas of contact admirably suited vfor the practice of. ythat proc.- ess, th'us minimizing the,v amount of, electric. curs. rent necessary and@ facilitating and `expediting the welding operation', The shortening of the depthof they ends of the; fianges. I4 in the inner channel in yeach, .pairpby the Vprevision of the shoulders t5 is; desirableto insure; contact of; the edges IJ of the outer channel-with the: edges of thefianges 4H? and I2 whenthe-Vintersectingchans nels areassembledon 'said flanges in; welding position. A Otherwise,4 such contact might not; be practicableA or possible without .ans undesirable bending, of one of. the interconnected crossing channels, as obviously. theydo not liev in the same gen'eralplane. It will be noted,V however, that th'e ends of the channels-fareelectrically welded to the. edges ofthe' anges II and-I1. ai;v

two separated and distinct points which notjonly makes for rigidity and .strength of thej welded joints but acts to greatly resist any tendency to disconnection lof the welded partsr or movement of one.Y with, respect to the other. Any suitable construction of electric Welding machine may be employed for practicing the electric welding proc.-

ess, which also obtains inthe case of the spot welds I9l herenbefore referred to. y

As is manifest. the strengthening of a flanged web or analogous structural beam in the manner explained enables.- the flanges, which ordinarily are y enti-rely unsupported except. centrally` there` of, to sustain very heavy loads In. the caseof an Ibeam, as an example, which is provided with flanges of appreciable width, such, for instance, as that shown in FigureA l., the merits and advantages of the inventionv will be obvious. In

casesv of4 this character., loads4 applied to. the` beam under' compression may bev applied` with. efficacy, is. so .desired/on, a vertical neutral axis-remote flanges, which are themselves stiffened by the strut webs, without straining the Welded' or other type of connection by which the struts are fastcned; to thebeam proper.

`It will' also be apparent that by means of the invention, structural 'beams will be found sufficient when made of appreciably less size and weight than ordinarily would be necessary for any-given construction..v Thisv results in agreat savingiof material and expense., Stilly a` further andfimportant advantage of the invention lies in thel fact. that if through-`- error ormiscalculation astructure has been completed, in which structuralv members comprising flanged webs, such Yas-I-beams,y have been employed but whose, size andfstrengith are insuflicient to permit them to satisfactorily perform their proper and. intended functions-y they.. may etten be conveniently and` expeditiously reinforced. in accordance with the invention described..

The invention claimed isz:

'1.Y A structuralbeam cnmprising a web,4 a flange extendingr laterally in: .the same direction. from each:` 'edge of thel web ,tov form; therewith ay channel shape, a plural-ityof reinforcing strut meme bers bracing the free edges ofsaid fianges, eaclr of said strut'. members comprising; a. web and: a

pair of flanges arranged in channel shapeY andl extendingat an obliqueangle between thebeam flanges and crossing a similar strut member. at a zone intermediate its. yends, all of the strut flanges extending. toward the beam web and certain y.of them having their end portions; cut away to' form: end shoulders engaging the beam flanges, and the flanges ofthe remainder of saidstrut members being 'out eutrat said. intermediate zone. of. each. to. provide --a. slot. having shoulders engagingthe crossingv strut member, means securing the vvebsefthev strut membersof each crossing pair togetherv and meansk securing the flanges only Vof. said. strut membersy to, the beamfl'anges, whereby compressive .forces actingY on the beam. flanges, are ytransmitted- Vthroughl said end; vshoulders and are resisted; by said strut Ii'anges, and whereby, saidgstrut webs are. uncut. and serveto stiensaidstrut. flanges.. Y

2; A structural' beam .cemprising a.vreb,a flange extending laterally intheV` same direction from each edge ofthe web to form therewith a channel shape, a plurality of reinforcing strut members bracing Vthe free-edges of said flanges eachgof. said'. strut members comprising a web anda. pair offlanges arrangedin channelshapeand.extentieV tween eachV of said beam anges and the anges only of said strut members, and a welded connection between the webs of the strut members of each crossing pair, whereby said welded connections secure the strut members to each other and to the beam with the webs of the strut members spaced by the flanges thereof from the flanges of the beam, and whereby compressive forces acting on the beam flanges are transmitted through said end shoulders and are resisted by said strut flanges, said strut webs being 5 uncut and serving to stlffen said strut flanges. 

